cowrie

any of a number of gastropods (family Cypraeidae) having brightly colored, glossy shells and found in warm seas

the shell of any of these mollusks, esp. the shell of the (Cypraea moneta), formerly used as currency in parts of Africa and S Asia

Origin of cowrie

Hindi kauṛī ; from Sanskrit kaparda

cowrie

or cow·ry

noun

pl.cow·ries

Any of various marine gastropods of the family Cypraeidae of tropical and subtropical seas, having glossy, often colorfully patterned shells, some of which were formerly used as currency in parts of the South Pacific and Africa.